Mumbai has been on high alert after a boat carrying three AK-47 rifles with live cartridges was found in Raigad and was followed by Mumbai traffic police receiving text messages threatening a ‘26/11-like’ attack in the city. On Thursday, the Gateway of India was closed for an hour for visitors for security reasons.
“We are alert on coastal security and are coordinating with the Coast Guard,” said Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar, at a press conference.
“We conducted a search operation for security reasons along with the Coast Guard. Gateway of India will be open for the public as usual,” a senior police official told this newspaper.
The official also confirmed that the place will not be closed for the public, brushing off the rumours that it will be closed for the next few days. “It was done once for preventive measures, there was no specific alert.
According to the people present at Gateway, the police had reached the spot at around 12:30-1 pm, and barricaded the entrance to refrain people from entering. “People who had already booked tickets for ferry rides were allowed to enter, and those returning from trips, too, were allowed to exit freely. Only new riders were restricted for some time and the general public,” said a photographer at Gateway.
The barricades were removed at around 2:15 pm. Meanwhile, a large number of police were deployed as usual at the spot, and nearby as part of additional security measures.
On Saturday, the Mumbai traffic police control received a text message that read, “There is going to be an attack on Mumbai and it will remind you of the 26/11 attack. If the police try to trace my number, the location will reflect outside of India. Six people will be executing this blast, and Mumbai city will explode. What if Osama bin Laden, Ajmal Kasab, or Ayam al-Zawahiri were killed, there are many more.”
The police later confirmed that the threat message was from a Pakistani number on WhatsApp.
Prior to that , a boat carrying rifles and ammunition at Harihareshwar beach in Raigad district was found which caused a stir in the city. While no persons were found in the boat, the goods and materials were inspected by the police.
